Good art should elicit a response of 'Huh? Wow!' as opposed to ‘Wow! Huh?'

I knew I wanted to be some kind of artist from about 12. I met a neighbour who drew cartoons, and I had an idea I wanted to be a cartoonist - or something that involved Indian ink, at any rate.

A lot of abstract painters seem to be doing everything all at once now. And so these different styles are jibing and not so jibing, and they're clashing. But they all seem to be working in their own domain. Whereas back in the '60s, man, it was kind of a dull world. It was a vital world. But it was kind of contained and not too recognized by the public. Now art is absolutely recognized by the public.

I wasn't captivated by the romance of Paris or London. I love visiting, but I'd rather be in L.A.

When I paint a picture of a house, that goes back to my roots.

The subject [of Los Angeles] became a general metaphor for anxiety and the speed of modern life.

I travel a lot, but I don't come away with new inspiration.